Q&A
Encouraging veterans to vote and participate in elections
0:23:56
·
162 sec
Council Member Holden inquires about DVS efforts to support the nationwide vote campaign for recruiting veteran poll workers and encouraging veterans to register to vote. Commissioner Hendon explains the limitations and concerns regarding DVS involvement in such initiatives.
- DVS does not directly engage with vote campaigns or voter registration efforts
- Concerns about being perceived as political or partisan limit DVS involvement
- Discussion on the importance of encouraging veterans to vote and participate in their communities
- Suggestion to include information about local volunteering opportunities in communications with veterans transitioning to civilian life
Robert F. Holden
0:23:56
So what has DBS done to support the national nationwide vote campaign to recruit election day poll workers for our vet from our veteran community.
James Hendon
0:24:11
So we haven't tied in with that vote, Mister Sharon.
0:24:14
Also, we don't tie in with these types of organizations in general as far as us proactively reaching out to them.
0:24:20
We know that our friends at civic engagement commission do have the democracy NYC campaign, that $2,000,000 campaign to do voter education, to get folks signed up to be able to vote ahead of the June primary.
0:24:29
But we, as an agency, do not directly proactively reach out to those entities.
Robert F. Holden
0:24:34
Alright.
0:24:34
And what about your efforts to what what what's DBS doing to encourage veterans to register the vote?
0:24:42
I mean, that's that I think is very important.
0:24:46
And when your testimony is veterans register more than the general population, which is good.
0:24:52
I'm glad to hear that.
0:24:54
But what are we doing to actually get more veterans to register?
James Hendon
0:25:00
What's tough about that, Mister Cherish, that for us, it it it the different ways to to to respond to this.
0:25:05
1 is that it's not within our charter.
0:25:07
As far as this area, for us, it's assisted in form in the areas of education, employment, health care housing benefits culture as one piece.
0:25:14
Another piece of this is, you know, we worry about in any way being perceived as being political.
0:25:19
It's so touchy to get into things that involve political education to get out the vote.
0:25:23
And there are other organizations that that already do this.
0:25:26
And so we, you know, kinda see that landscape, but then we are worried about, you know, we don't want it in any way be perceived as being partisan or leading any
Robert F. Holden
0:25:35
Well, you mean, you're just saying the vote.
0:25:36
You're not saying who the vote for.
0:25:38
You're just vote.
0:25:40
And, you know, it's important to get the voices from our veterans to vote.
0:25:44
So, you know, and it's a listen.
0:25:47
The general population, everybody should vote.
0:25:49
It should be you know, it should be every on everyone's list of of things to do on on election day or or even prior to that.
0:25:57
But, again, it's it's transitioning from military life to civilian life.
0:26:03
You know?
0:26:04
So to focus on what they could do for their communities is important.
0:26:10
You know?
0:26:10
So when you said you get the list of people who are looking to New York to to settle after their military life, there should be some kind of message to them.
0:26:21
To on volunteer, and you mentioned a bunch, but just in their local communities, how to volunteer.
0:26:30
And and, again, that could come from the VA or DVS.
0:26:35
But even an email, something to that effect could help.
